Fuel Smarts

EPA Might Alter ‘Implementation Roadmap’ for GHG Phase 2 Rules

ORLANDO — Truck operators and builders are commenting strongly on the proposed Phase 2 Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas emissions proposals, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking notes and might well make some changes to the lengthy set of rules. That was a takeaway from a Tuesday session at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s fall meeting near Orlando.

Panelists including an EPA regulator, a truck builder, a trailer manufacturer and a big-fleet manager offered insights on the June proposals made jointly by EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as experiences dealing with previous EPA rules that have proven troublesome and expensive.

Billed as an “implementation roadmap,” the session saw discussions of what is likely to happen when the rules become final, and indicated that EPA is serious not only about further reducing exhaust emissions but also about boosting vehicle fuel economy. And the agency official’s remarks suggested that it intends to be reasonable about it.

The Phase 2 GHG proposals, as they’re commonly called, will build on the "successful" Phase 1 rules now in effect, said Matthew Spears, executive director of EPA’s Heavy Duty Diesel Program. The upcoming rules will require advanced aerodynamics and combustion technology, and more use of low-rolling-resistance tires and tire-inflation devices.

And EPA and NHTSA will “encourage the development of new technology” to meet fuel economy and emissions-reduction goals, he said. He repeated claims made during announcement in June that investments in equipment will be paid back in as little as two years (for Class 8 tractor trailers in highway service) to six years (for large pickups and cargo vans).

Brian Keek of Con-way Freight countered those rosy forecasts by listing a long, expensive history of defects with EPA-mandated emissions controls on 2002/04, ’07 and ’10 diesels. But he noted that the 2010 engines began getting better fuel economy, which was lost starting with the first changes in ‘02/04, and that diesels built since 2010 seem to be getting more reliable.

Kenworth engineer Jason Johnson acknowledged that that today’s engines run so cleanly that 65 trucks powered by them produce the same amount of emissions as a single 1990-model truck. But he brought up “unknowns” about certain aspects of the Phase 2 rules:

While California’s highly influential Air Resources Board is “aligned” with the Phase 2 proposals, as Spears said, CARB might again go its own way and make rules stricter;

There’s a “mismatch” between model years of trucks and engines, which must be resolved;

The rules are focused on regulating manufacturers, but emissions will be tested by state and local authorities when equipment is in the hands of owners; and

Technology development to satisfy the rules “is not guaranteed.”

In response to a reporter’s question about the model-year mismatch, meaning trucks enter model years many months before engines, which would lead to manufacturing and enforcement confustion, Spears said EPA is looking at “several approaches” to resolve it.

The reporter also asked if EPA wants to ban glider kits, which are addressed in the proposals. Spears said the agency doesn't want to ban them, but wants to reduce emissions from the older engines used in the kits, and wants high-mileage, glider-kitted road tractors to use diesels meeting current emissions limits. He said low-mileage vocational trucks that produce little pollution, such as concrete mixer chassis, might be left alone.

On the trailer side, Charles Fetz, who directs product development for Great Dane Trailer, said the Phase 2 trailer rules as currently proposed will demand a 6% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to SmartWay Basic performance of 2018; 8% and 10% reductions in ’21 and ’24, respectively, which the rules call Intermediate; and a 12% cut in the Final step in 2027. Advanced aerodynamics and low-rolling-resistance tires with automatic inflation systems are expected to accomplish those improvements.

The comment period for the Phase 2 proposals ends Oct. 1, and Spears said the final rulemaking would be announced the second quarter of next year.

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Comments

1.Kenny[ September 24, 2015 @ 04:39AM ]

The Fmcsa said that there new hos would save lifes but it has not. Now the Epa says there new rules will save money. Let me tell you their old rules put me out of business and my truck with emissions got the worst fuel mileage of any truck I had own on in 40 years. Plus ask any engine shop Forman and he will tell you the emissions are junk,you cannot spend enough money to fix them. The Fmcsa,epa are a cancer on The American trucker and I do not use the word cancer lightly. When enforcement of the new Epa rules came in back years ago why did Cat say we will quit making new truck engines and they did. Know 6nz Cat remans are going for $40000 and glider kits with them and 12.7 DD are selling like crazy, why is that. The American trucker is not bad person who wants to destroy the earth with pollution at all I love American and its nature. But explain to me what do we gain by burning more fuel and producing a caustic liquid to pure into an engine and all of the other materials used such as filters ,precious metals ,wiring and blast furnaces to clean the mufflers to make clean air. Honestly I am sick to death of Federal workers making a good living with benefits while they destroy good hard working people. All you can do is watch how you vote.

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